We spend a lot of time and effort researching the latest in packaging to find the best option for you and the environment. We selected our current packaging with those things in mind.
What We Use
Sakara's food containers are made from post-consumer recycled #1 PET plastic. This means the plastic used to create the containers has had a prior life—for instance, as a water bottle. By giving it a second life as a Sakara meal container, we’re saving thousands of pounds of plastic from ending up in landfills and oceans. Using recycled plastic to make our containers is more expensive than using virgin plastic, but we believe it’s well worth the investment for its environmental impact.
Why We Didn't Go "Compostable"
While "compostable" containers might seem like a good option, research shows otherwise. In fact, they can take just as long to break down as a regular plastic container or any other waste—up to 1,000 years. There are two major types of compostable containers:
Option #1: Pulp or paper-based containers. These are usually polycoated (coated with plastic) to make them water resistant. But polycoating makes these containers un-compostable. Left uncoated, pulp or paper-based containers can’t withstand moisture, nor can they sufficiently protect their contents from airflow or excessive movement during shipping. This results in wilted greens and damaged food, creating unnecessary food waste. It’s our goal to bring you the crispest greens, the freshest fruits, and the most beautiful, delicious meals possible—and we believe our packaging achieves this best, while also reducing food waste and carbon emissions (did you know the methane gas from food waste is ~30x stronger than CO2?) for the good of the planet.
Option #2: Plant-based plastics (PLA). PLA might look like plastic, but it isn’t—and it can’t be recycled. And, like pulp or paper-based containers, PLA requires a commercial composting facility (quite different from your backyard composter). Commercial composting centers are not common in the U.S.—in fact, there are only about 200 of these facilities in the entire country. On the other hand, most major cities in America have established recycling programs (~10,000 in the U.S.).
We believe that at this time, recycled PET plastic is the best option for you and the environment. Our hope is that our packaging will reduce landfill waste by remaining in the recycling system, and—because of its superior protective qualities—cut carbon emissions by reducing food waste.
What You Can Do
We ask that you do your part by rinsing and recycling your Sakara containers after enjoying your meals. With your support, we can make sure our containers live on and never end up in landfills or oceans. Together we can help keep our planet healthy and beautiful.
For more information on Sakara's sustainability efforts, click here.